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Nancy Markin Hecox BSP ’78 - Pharmacist, Educator and Big Game Hunter

4/2/2012

Nancy Markin Hecox BSP ’78’s work with Tieton Village Drugs was recently recognized with an Honorable Mention in the partnership category of the APhA Immunization Champion Awards. These awards were created in 2008 to recognize the value and extraordinary contributions pharmacists provide to improving the vaccination rates of their communities. The pharmacy’s VFA (Vaccine for Adults) program was designed in collaboration with the Yakima Health District. The program, modeled after the federal government’s VFC, obtains free vaccines through AmeriCares and a vaccine manufacturer’s patient assistance program. VFA is the first program in the United States to allow a pharmacy access to free vaccine for the uninsured and underinsured.

Nancy is one of two pharmacists who provided a variety of clinical services throughout their community, in addition to medication management and dispensing in their pharmacy. These included off-site immunization clinics in businesses, schools, impromptu clinics, homeless shelters, day care centers, senior citizen centers, long-term clinics, homeless shelters, day care centers, senior citizen centers, long-term care facilities, state fairs, boardrooms, treatment centers and nursing homes. She has also just been notified that the Trieton Village Drug free vaccination project has been chosen by as a 2012 Health Champion in the area of communicable disease for their contributions to improving public health through disease prevention and health promotion measures in the areas of Active Living/Healthy Eating, Tobacco/Alcohol/Other Drugs, Communicable Disease, Mental/Emotional Well Being and Sexual/Reproductive Health.

On a personal note, Nancy moved to Washington state soon after she graduated from pharmacy school, got married and “got to work.” She describes herself as “just a pharmacist who wants to serve. I can see there are needs in my community, and I just find a way around all of the ‘no -sayers ‘ to get it done. I have been giving vaccinations for about 20 years, so this is really just an extension of services.” Nancy is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has been married to Ray Hecox for 32 years, has 2 dogs and likes to train for marathons, keep fit and be active!

She and Ray took up travel and big game hunting several years ago. She shared that they provide medical care to local tribes, mostly children, during their travels. (The photos in this article were taken during a recent trip to Zambia.)